Chest fridge for frunk

[flyct]

UPDATE. Received the powered cooler and it fits perfectly. It runs fine with frunk closed and doesn’t message that it exceeds wattage when frunk is closed.

im very happy with purchase. Cost $189 plus tax from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08N63CSH5/

This new one is 35 Liter (38 qt). I still have our original version with 55 Liter (59 qt) in truck bed under soft tonneau cover. When we are traveling the 2-1/2 hours between house and cabin I’ll use the big one as a refrigerator and the smaller one as a freezer.

When returning from supermarket I’ll probobly only use one set at 0 deg to keep food frozen and cool on the short trip home.

Another really nice feature is the Bluetooth app where we can monitor the temps and even change temp setting while driving

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[BennyTheBeaver]

I've had this one for a year and a half, love it. Makes Costco trips possible at any time of the day, regardless what I'm doing after.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08D96GJJL

 

[Yellow Buddy]

This new one is 35 Liter (38 qt). I still have our original version with 55 Liter (59 qt) in truck bed under soft tonneau cover. When we are traveling the 2-1/2 hours between house and cabin I’ll use the big one as a refrigerator and the smaller one as a freezer.

When returning from supermarket I’ll probobly only use one set at 0 deg to keep food frozen and cool on the short trip home.

Another really nice feature is the Bluetooth app where we can monitor the temps and even change temp setting while driving

Now you just need to test the 47 to round out the comparison.

 

[flyct]

Now you just need to test the 47 to round out the comparison.

Nah The 47 is 3.5" taller that the 35 so I doubt it would fit the FRonk.

Traveling yesterday for a 3 hour trip and I used the 35 in the FRonk as a Freezer and the 55 in the bed as a Refrigerator. It worked perfectly.

About 30 minutes before leaving I plugged in the coolers with an extension cord to the house outlets so everything was pre cooled. On the road it was nice to be able to monitor temps in each separately using the iPhone app to verify all was well.

These coolers were great for us as we routinely travel 3 hours between houses. Before we couldn't bring Ice Cream now not a problem keeping things frozen.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

Nah The 47 is 3.5" taller that the 35 so I doubt it would fit the FRonk.

Traveling yesterday for a 3 hour trip and I used the 35 in the FRonk as a Freezer and the 55 in the bed as a Refrigerator. It worked perfectly.

About 30 minutes before leaving I plugged in the coolers with an extension cord to the house outlets so everything was pre cooled. On the road it was nice to be able to monitor temps in each separately using the iPhone app to verify all was well.

These coolers were great for us as we routinely travel 3 hours between houses. Before we couldn't bring Ice Cream now not a problem keeping things frozen.

Highly unlikely, it looks like you only have another 1.5-2” max left.

How’s the sizing compared to the big one? It looks tiny in the frunk there, is the interior the same layout with the mini shelf?

 

[bub]

I took the plunge and bought a portable firdge for road trips and camping.
To add it to the list of fridges people have tried before with the lighting:

Iceco APL55 dual zone fridge/freezer.
Its unfortunately too tall to fit in the frunk. But it does fit in the truck bed underneath a flush mounted tri-fold tonneau cover with about an inch to spare.

 

[Rlevans]

Maybe I’ve missed it, but for those running a 12 volt fridge/ cooler did you just tap into the 12v battery? Any issues ?
Just know it’s a small battery…

 

[vvgogh]

Maybe I’ve missed it, but for those running a 12 volt fridge/ cooler did you just tap into the 12v battery? Any issues ?
Just know it’s a small battery…

I added a 180W solar panel to the roof of the bed smart cap charging a 256 Wh Ecoflow, 7.7 lbs and $170. That's cost and weight competitive with upgrading the OEM battery. You can use AC charging instead when you power on the truck and it'll last a day powering a cooler when the truck is off and no solar panel needed.

 

[flyct]

Maybe I’ve missed it, but for those running a 12 volt fridge/ cooler did you just tap into the 12v battery? Any issues ?
Just know it’s a small battery…

Mine can run either on 12v or 120vac. In the Lightning I use the 120vac cord. Then cord is actually a 120vac to 12vdc converter.

Today I used the bigger in our 2024 F-450 Platinum Diesel, which has 2- 120vac 2.2 kw (20 amp) power outlets in the truck bed.

 

[adoublee]

I took the plunge and bought a portable firdge for road trips and camping.
To add it to the list of fridges people have tried before with the lighting:

Iceco APL55 dual zone fridge/freezer.
Its unfortunately too tall to fit in the frunk. But it does fit in the truck bed underneath a flush mounted tri-fold tonneau cover with about an inch to spare.

I got the same for use under a Retrax coiling metal tonneau cover. I keep it on in the house all the time as an expansion of the kitchen refrigerator. Impressive how quiet it is.

 

[ahhuber]

this bodega in the Frunk has been awesome for camping.

And the hot plate makes a mean grilled cheese on top.

The Lightning rocks as a camping vehicle. 20k miles, 14 months. Loving every minute of it.
Way to go Ford !!
Never camped before - now we do all the time.
I never thought that I’d use that frunk so much - it’s a brilliantly designed vehicle

 

[lcorning]

I use the Bouge RV 30 like several others have mentioned. It doesn’t have any heat issues working in the Frunk.

We also use it in the “basement” of our Model Y. That is a much tighter fit and it will get warm in there, but if you leave the trunk floor panel propped open it is fine for hours. We drove PA to CO and back (14 hr days) and it was great. The Tesla keeps power to it if you put the car on Dog Mode. I can’t wait until Ford gets dog mode in the Lightning.

I did the same road trip in the Lightning and took an induction burner along as well as a hot water kettle. Very convenient at a charging stop to cook up a quick meal and replenish the coffee!

Hi- which water kettle did you use? I’m looking for a camping one for my ford lightning. Thanks

 

[Timeless Epoch]

I don’t know if a compressor based option would be good for the frunk. There’s not a ton of room for the excess heat to escape to since the frunk is sealed. I would expect the bed would be a far better option since there will be airflow even with a bed cover.

All refrigerators move heat from the interior of the fridge to the exterior. The method does not matter much.

However, a compressor based cooler will have more capacity to deal with the less than ideal conditions compared to a peltier based fridge that will struggle in all but ideal situations.

That said, I use an AcoPower compressor based cooler. I have not used it with my Lightning yet, but I think it would suit it well. It’s 12v/120v and it has an optional battery pack that will run it for an impressive amount of time.

I use mine by the pool. Leave beer and sodas in it and plug it in inside my garage. When I have a few people over to swim, I roll it out by the pool and it runs all day on battery. It can act as a freezer chest as well and has no problem keeping the cervezas ice cold.

 

[Athrun88]

Not sure if it's been asked before, but is it an issue to have a compressor based fridge in the frunk and it getting shaken/jostled around while the truck is in motion? Not sure if, beyond a certain amount of movement, it would require the refrigerant to settle before being put to use.

 

[broncoaz]

Not sure if it's been asked before, but is it an issue to have a compressor based fridge in the frunk and it getting shaken/jostled around while the truck is in motion? Not sure if, beyond a certain amount of movement, it would require the refrigerant to settle before being put to use.

I had an ARB fridge with the danfoss compressor that lived in my car/truck/suv full time for about five years, no issue with the refrigerant unless the unit gets completely turned upside down allowing the liquid to go where only gas is supposed to be.

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